Hopeful Developments in Colorado and TexasThe cost of wind power has now fallen dramatically from about 14 cents per kilowatt-hour in 1986 to
under 5 cents per
kilowatt hour, a cent or so above what Public Service Company of New Mexico
(New Mexico's largest private electricity utility) reports to be the cost of its coal-fired electricity.
Moreover, recent efforts in Colorado (www.cogreenpower.org/Grssroot.htm) show
that grass roots efforts can succeed in bringing renewable wind power to
the consumer, even in the face of significant opposition at the state regulatory
level. After efforts to achieve a renewables mandate from the Colorado Public Utilities
Commission failed, the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies (www.lawfund.org)
teamed up with Public Service Company of
Colorado in a non-adversarial effort to offer "Green-pricing" for
renewables-that is, customers could opt to pay slightly more on their utility
bills (2.5 cents per kWh) for wind power. The program has been remarkably
successful-about 20,500 homes and businesses have signed up so far, and at least
10,000 are now receiving their renewable energy. It is instructive to note
the role of the nonprofit in this case: The Land and Water Fund provided the public education and
credibility needed to attract customers, and also negotiated a reasonably low
price, both of which were essential to the success of the program (www.repp.org/articles/resRpt08/part1.html).

To our southeast, in an equally exciting development, the Texas Public Regulatory Commission has
adopted a ruling requiring that 2000 megawatts of renewables be added
to the Texas's energy portfolio. This is about 90% of New Mexico's total draw!
(about 2200 megawatts). In the commissions ruling, is was explicitly stated that
"The Legislature's commitment to development of the state's abundant
renewable resources is derived from the preferences expressed by Texas consumers
in favor of renewable power." This demonstrates the effectiveness
of citizen action! Full text of the ruling can be found on the Texas
PUC website. (www.puc.state.tx.us/rules/rulemake/20944/25.173.doc)